Thursday October 14, 2010, 2:26 am
When you see spooky places,
just take my advice,
And don't go in rooms filled
with ghosts, bats, and mice.
So don't risk your life going
looking for spooks,
Just go to a party with
some good friendly kooks.

Thursday October 14, 2010, 12:38 pm
Interesting piece, but not entirely accurate. There HAVE been instances of straight pins and razor blades in various kinds of candy and apples given out on Halloween. My son, in the early 1970's brought home a 3 Muskateers or a Milky Way bar that had a razor blade in it. My husband was a cop at the time, and he told me of other of instances in which parents of trick-or-treaters, in the municipality where he worked, found straight pins inside apples and other pieces of fruit. I also recall other instances on the evening news at the time, citing similar problems. Thereafter, we, along with most parents, threw away every single unwrapped or homemade item. Just because time has passed, that does not mean that this sort of insanity will not rear its ugly head again. Parents need to be vigilant.

Thursday October 14, 2010, 1:11 pm
A wonderful time of year. I am Wiccan. I worship the Earth and all her life. It is the beginning of the New Year for Wiccans and Pagans. We celebrate the Earth's bounty of harvest and look ahead to the buds of new life. I Do Not believe in the Devil. I wish only peace for all people, not harm, unless atacked. I would never consider a sacrificial ritual, that's absurd. Halloween (Samhain for me) is simply a time when the veil between our world and the spiritual world thins. Many are visited by ancestors or loved ones ... in your dreams, a breeze, a sensation of presence. Some are lucky enough to receive a visualization. Never fear, they are only there to comfort, help you, and remind you they love you. Celebrate the spirit of the dead.

Thursday October 14, 2010, 1:31 pm
It's good to know that the Halloween, Celtic Samhain, holiday is finally being explained as to its true meaning. The dead are only part of this holiday because as Autumn turns to Winter and as plants return to their earthly sleep, it is believed too that the everlasting souls of the dearly departed also are in a twilight space between life and eternal sleep. As plants return to life after winter, so the souls remain in suspension. That's why the Christian took over the holiday as All Souls Day.

By the way, if anyone is superstitious about black cats. Move to Scotland. In Scotland the black cats are seen as symbols of good luck. You certainly want many black cats to cross your path in bonny Scotland.

Thursday October 14, 2010, 2:12 pm
While most of the myths covered are in fact myths, the author is wrong about the very first one. There have been instances of nut jobs who have put needles or pins into Halloween candy before handing it out. Most of them were youngsters looking to play a prank, but at least one person actually intended to harm children. So be careful with your candy, don't eat anything that could have been tampered with, and don't believe everything you read online, even on Care2. If you want to check it out, go to Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/needles.asp

Thursday October 14, 2010, 3:16 pm
According to calculations, the Halloween and All Saints day does refer back to a certain time from the past. Some would tend to call it a "religious" memory. On that day, some 2345 or thereabout years BC there was a catastrophe that wiped out all but 8 people from the earth. This is the memory of that catastrophe and has been embellished with all the extra paraphenalia that goes with it. Always, as time passes, there are extra things attached to any memory of the past. Who is not guilty of embellishing a good story?

The other interesting thing on this point is that most people would rather believe a fairy tale than investigate the reality, especially if it meant that they might have to change their thinking from the evidence they found and particularly if it went against the present so called "scientific" evidence and actually had more science in it's favour.

Thursday October 14, 2010, 3:54 pm
This is a great holiday for children, its fun with all the customes and treak or treating, it really is a great time of year especially with all the beautiful fall flowers and leaves!!! and the smell of burning wood and leaves and lets not forget the apple cider!!! but of course all parents must use caution when sending their chikldren treak or treating or going with them, and as a precaution always examine candy and if u have a feeling of something not being right then go with yr instinct!!! but nowadays most partents throw the children halloween parties with all the trimmings which i think is way safer!!! and lots of fun, with prizes for the best custome!!!
it really is a great time of year, especailly for children, and also some adults that dress up and attend grown-up adult parties this is soooo much!!!

Thursday October 14, 2010, 6:01 pm
Halloween has always been my favorite Holiday. I love dressing up even now in my twilight years! I even love the nasty old candy! It's a holiday for kids of all ages..

Friday October 15, 2010, 4:48 pm
Halloween or All Hallows is, of course, the diluted memory of Samhain, the Celtic (whatever that means) festival of "summer's end", hijacked by the Christians for their own ends. They were sufficiently astute to appreciate the power of the ancient religion that this event represented and its social value to Pagans and that they couldn't fight it head-on. So, with subtle re-branding and the familiar politician's technique of repeating a lie loud and long enough until it is eventually believed, the old traditions were finally usurped by this upstart cult from the Middle East. Further, to bring home the message, many Christian churches were, at least in Britain, built on far older, Pagan, mounds as through to illustrate the god's supremacy over the old. And so many of these sites are dedicated to St Michael, the true slayer of the dragon. And the dragon symbolises the Pagan spirit which echoes from the dawn of human consciousness and makes us what we really are and will remain. And dragons, of course, do exist and the best ones are immortal.

Friday October 15, 2010, 8:39 pm
My second daughter was born on Halloween..so it was always and extra special time. The house would be decorated, we'd all be in costumes and we'd go tricks or treating. To this day I still decorate the inside and outside of the house, but I no longer get any trick or treaters. It used to be a fun time as an adult to come up with a good costume and hit the bars. It was always busy when the holiday fell on Friday or Saturday. Now I stay home and watch a scary movie on tv.

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